Editing Universal Pictures (section)

=== Extensions and NBCUniversal/Comcast era===
[[File:Gate 2, Universal Studios Lot.jpg|thumb|left|Gate 2, Universal Studios]]
Afterward, Universal Pictures acquired the United States distribution rights of several of StudioCanal's films, such as [[David Lynch]]'s ''[[Mulholland Drive (film)|Mulholland Drive]]'' (2001) and ''[[Brotherhood of the Wolf]]'' (2001) which became the sixth-highest-grossing [[French language|French-language]] film of all time in the United States.<ref name="Genre Keyword, Foreign Language">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/genre/sg4208980225/?ref_=bo_gs_table_195|title=Genre Keyword, Foreign Language|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=18 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="D'Alessandro 16">{{cite magazine |last=D'Alessandro  |first=Anthony |title=ALL-TIME FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILMS IN NORTH AMERICA |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|location=|date=February 21, 2000 |page=16}}</ref> Universal Pictures and StudioCanal also co-produced several films, such as ''[[Love Actually]]'' (2003); a $40&nbsp;million-budgeted film that eventually grossed $246&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=loveactually.htm|title=Love Actually (2003) – Box Office Mojo|work=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> In late 2000, the [[New York Film Academy]] was permitted to use the [[Universal Studios Lot|Universal Studios backlot]] for student film projects in an unofficial partnership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nyfa.edu/los-angeles/#universal-studios|title=New York Film Academy – Los Angeles|work=nyfa.edu}}</ref> 

In late 2005, Viacom's [[Paramount Pictures]] acquired [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks SKG]] after acquisition talks between GE and DreamWorks stalled. Universal's long-time chairperson, Stacey Snider, left the company in early 2006 to head up DreamWorks. Snider was replaced by then-Vice chairman [[Marc Shmuger]] and [[Focus Features]] head [[David Linde]]. On October 5, 2009, Marc Shmuger and David Linde were ousted, and their co-chairperson jobs were consolidated under former president of worldwide marketing and distribution Adam Fogelson, becoming the single chairperson. Donna Langley was also upped to co-chairperson.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2009/10/adam-fogelson-named-new-chairman-of-universal-pictures-16985/|title='Two And A Half Men' Cast's Holiday Gifts For The Show's Crew And Staff|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|magazine=Deadline|date=October 5, 2009}}</ref> In 2009, Stephanie Sperber founded Universal Partnerships & Licensing within Universal to license consumer products for Universal.<ref name=tw>{{cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Lindsay|title=Universal Partnerships & Licensing to Expand to Consumer Products Covering NBC and Sprout|url=https://www.thewrap.com/universal-partnerships-licensing-to-expand-to-consumer-products-covering-nbc-and-sprout/|access-date=June 27, 2014|work=The Wrap|date=June 19, 2014}}</ref>

In September 2013, Adam Fogelson was ousted as co-chairman of Universal Pictures, promoting Donna Langley to the sole chairperson. In addition, NBCUniversal International chairman [[Jeff Shell]] would be appointed as chairman of the newly created Filmed Entertainment Group. Longtime studio head [[Ronald Meyer|Ron Meyer]] would give up oversight of the film studio and appointed vice chairman of NBCUniversal, providing consultation to CEO Steve Burke on all of the company's operations. Meyer retained oversight of Universal Parks and Resorts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/09/shocker-adam-fogelson-out-in-universal-shakeup-582309/ |title=Universal Shakeup: Adam Fogelson Out, Donna Langley Sideways, Jeff Shell In, And Ron Meyer Up As Studio Taken By Surprise |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=September 9, 2013 |website=Deadline |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>

Universal's multi-year film financing deal with [[Elliott Management]] expired in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Masters|first=Kim|title=Why Studios Don't Pay to Make Movies Anymore|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-fox-paramount-sony-fox-400727?page=4|access-date=April 22, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 13, 2012|page=4}}</ref> In summer 2013, Universal made an agreement with [[Thomas Tull]]'s [[Legendary Entertainment|Legendary Pictures]] to distribute their films for five years starting in 2014 (the year that Legendary's similar agreement with [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] ended).<ref>{{Cite news |first=Ryan |last=Faughnder |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-legendary-entertainment-strikes-fiveyear-deal-with-nbcuniversal-20130710,0,2003167.story |title=Legendary Entertainment strikes five-year deal with NBCUniversal |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 10, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref>

In June 2014, Universal Partnerships took over licensing consumer products for [[NBC]] and [[Universal Kids#Universal Kids Preschool (2018-2022; 2022-present (secondary))|Sprout]] with the expectation that all licensing would eventually be centralized within NBCUniversal.<ref name="tw"/> 

In May 2015, [[Gramercy Pictures]] was revived by Focus Features as a genre label concentrating on action, sci-fi, and horror films.<ref>{{cite news|title=Focus Revives Gramercy Pictures Label For Genre Films|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/focus-features-revives-gramercy-pictures-label-genre-films-1201430500/|date=May 20, 2015|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 20, 2015}}</ref>

On December 16, 2015, [[Amblin Partners]] announced that it entered into a five-year distribution deal with Universal Pictures by which the films will be distributed and marketed by either Universal or [[Focus Features]].<ref name="variety1">{{cite news|last1 = Lang|first1 = Brent|title = Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll Bring Amblin Partners to Universal|url = https://variety.com/2015/film/news/steven-spiellberg-universal-1201662956/|access-date = December 23, 2015|work = Variety|date = December 16, 2015}}</ref><ref name="deadline1">{{cite news|last1 = Busch|first1 = Anita|title = It's Official: Spielberg, DreamWorks, Participant, eOne, Others Pact For Amblin Partners|url = https://deadline.com/2015/12/spielberg-dreamworks-participant-eone-others-pact-for-amblin-partners-1201668244/|access-date = December 23, 2015|work = [[Deadline Hollywood]]|date = December 16, 2015}}</ref>

In early 2016, [[Perfect World Pictures]] announced a long-term co-financing deal with Universal, representing the first time a Chinese company directly invests in a multi-year slate deal with a major U.S. studio.<ref name="variety2">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/universal-perfect-world-deal-complete-1201707633/|title=Universal and Perfect World Pictures of China Complete $500 Million Film Slate Deal|first1=James|last1=Rainey|date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>

On April 28, 2016, Universal's parent company, NBCUniversal, announced a $3.8&nbsp;billion deal to buy [[DreamWorks Animation]].<ref name="lat-comcastbuy">{{cite web|title=Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-nbcuniversal-buys-dreamworks--20160428-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=April 28, 2016 |access-date=April 28, 2016}}</ref> On August 22, 2016, the deal was completed.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=James Rainey |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/dreamworks-animation-new-mangement-structure-1201842942/ |title=NBCUniversal Sets New DreamWorks Animation Chain of Command |magazine=Variety |date=August 23, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2016}}</ref> Universal took over the distribution deal with DreamWorks Animation starting in 2019 with the release of ''[[How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World]]'', after DreamWorks Animation's distribution deal with [[20th Century Fox]] ended.

On February 15, 2017, Universal Pictures acquired a minority stake in Amblin Partners, strengthening the relationship between Universal and Amblin.<ref name="NBCUniversal">{{cite news|last1 = Perry|first1 = Spencer|title = Universal Studios Buys a Minority Stake in Amblin Partners|url = https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/814659-universal-studios-buys-a-minority-stake-in-amblin-partners|access-date = February 20, 2017|work = Comingsoon.net|date = February 15, 2017}}</ref>

In December 2019, Universal Pictures entered early negotiations to distribute upcoming feature films based on the [[Lego]] toys. Although the original ''[[The Lego Movie (franchise)|The Lego Movie]]'' characters and projects are still owned by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], Universal Pictures will serve as a distributor of future releases and will develop additional ''Lego'' films. The first Lego film under Universal Pictures' run of their film rights is ''[[Piece by Piece (2024 film)|Piece by Piece]]'' (2024).<ref>{{cite web |date= December 19, 2019 |author= Matt Donnelly |title= Universal in Talks With Lego Group to Develop New Films Based on Toys (Exclusive) |url= https://variety.com/2019/film/news/universal-pictures-in-talks-for-lego-film-deal-1203449172/ |website=Variety }}</ref>

On April 28, 2020, following the release of [[Trolls World Tour]] on [[premium video on demand]] due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], [[AMC Theaters]] announced they will not carry films from Universal after [[NBCUniversal]] CEO [[Jeff Shell]] commented in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' that the studio wanted to release films via premium video-on-demand simultaneously with theatrical releases. The company threatened that this will also be done with any other studio "who unilaterally abandons current windowing practices absent good faith negotiations between us, so that they as distributor and we as exhibitor both benefit and neither are hurt from such changes."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amc-theatres-refuses-play-universal-films-wake-trolls-world-tour-1292327|title=AMC Theatres Refuses to Play Universal Films in Wake of 'Trolls: World Tour'|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 28, 2020|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429025154/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amc-theatres-refuses-play-universal-films-wake-trolls-world-tour-1292327|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 3, 2020, AMC stated that it had "substantial doubt" that it would remain in business.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/media/amc-theatres-business-coronavirus/index.html | title=AMC Theatres has 'substantial doubt' it can remain in business | last=Pallotta | first=Frank | work=[[CNN]] | date=June 3, 2020 | access-date=June 4, 2020 | archive-date=January 27, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127012933/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/media/amc-theatres-business-coronavirus/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref> On July 28, 2020, AMC and Universal were able to resolve their dispute, with AMC agreeing to a shorter theatrical window of 17 days before Universal could release their films via premium VOD, as well as revenue sharing on the premium VOD window.<ref>{{Cite news | last1=Lang | first1=Brent | last2=Rubin | first2=Rebecca | title=Universal, AMC Theatres Forge Historic Deal Allowing Theatrical Releases to Debut on Premium VOD Early | url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/universal-amc-theatres-historic-deal-windows-1234718737/ | website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date=July 28, 2020 | access-date=July 29, 2020 | archive-date=July 29, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729172330/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/universal-amc-theatres-historic-deal-windows-1234718737/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2020, it was announced longtime Universal International Distribution President Duncan Clark would be stepping down. He would transition to a consulting role with the studio in August and would be replaced by Veronika Kwan Vandenberg.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/duncan-clark-exiting-universal-veronika-kwan-vandenberg-joining-president-international-distribution-1202954370/ |title=Duncan Clark To Exit Universal As President Of International Distribution; Former WB Exec Veronika Kwan Vandenberg Will Take Over Role |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=June 9, 2020 |website=Deadline |access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>